Bridgewater couple left homeless after town orders them to leave RV on own land | CBC News
Bridgewater couple left homeless after town orders them to leave RV on own land | CBC News
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This is a story where it feels like there’s more going on than is being reported.
In the absence of demonstrable safety issues surrounding the structure, on site security will not be enhanced by making the couple move to a distance. IMO the town should be held accountable for any loss to theft, or delay to completing the construction work.
As a more appropriate use of town power, how about fast tracking this octogenarian’s application and permitting, instead of evicting them and making them dependent on government, or an NGO, for housing?
Yes and no.
RVs don't have to meet the building codes the same way that houses do. I'd be very skeptical of the covered porch the man built that houses a furnace - there's no comment in the article about that, but I'd be surprised if it met all the requirements for long term housing.
It's fair for the Town to enforce their bylaws and housing codes. We have building codes for a reason.
Additionally, from the article
>"We're required to enforce our bylaws and I think that it's demonstrated that we do sympathize with the situation they're in, because we've been working with them for the last two years," Crowder said.
It sounds like it's taken quite a while for them to prepare building plans. They say they 'have them in hand and plan to start the building process soon', which means they haven't actually applied yet. I'm curious what their sewer, water, and power situation is, as those hookups and/or septic beds also require permits from the Town. Living somewhere without running water or sewage removal is a concern for the neighbors.
Two years for just rough plans without having got approval from the Town yet? That's a slow timeline. Especially if they're living on the site the whole time. They haven't started the process yet? Why doesn't the Town say 'start the process and we can discuss extending your time allowed in the trailer'?
This is an odd situation, but the article doesn't go into enough details for us to get outraged about the Town's role.
all the requirements for long term housing
It's not long term housing though. He's attempting to build the long term housing, from what I can tell.
He's also 85, I know he has a construction background but I certainly hope he has contractors doing the majority of the work. But 2 years with no permits or plans submitted or contractors hired makes me think this guy wants to build it on his own at his own pace, and may be overestimating his own abilities given his age at this point.
Yeah but living in it for at least 2 yrs it is considered long term. From the article, the Town has been aware of it for at least that long, so who knows how long it's actually been